Locking gas cap



Jan. l? 1935. MA 3,l |VAND|CK 1,986,203

LOCKING lGAS CAP Filed Nov. 22, 1955' zog] //s /4 f l f 72' 2 2/23/8Patented Jan. 1, 1935 .1,986,203 Loeknve erAsfoAP"v Mathew G: Ivandick,Waukegan, Ill.

Application' Nve'mbefaz, 1933, seyiaxno; easier A3 zzaolaims(olimflsoa vThis invention appertains to closure caps, for the `filling necks oftanks, such as gasolinev tanks utilized for supplying fuel vtothe'internal com-v l bustionsenginesvof automobiles. A One of theprimary objects of my -invention isl lto provide novel means forlockingthe closureA cap on the filling neckso thatthe-same can only be removedby the proper person and-,thereby prevent the draining of the tank byunauthorized I persons.

` Another salientV object of Lmy invention is the'- provision of aclosure Acap for thev filling, necks of gasoline tanks Aembodying f aping-tumbler lock having rotatable with the barrel thereof a locking barmovable into and out of locking engagement with the cam flangesofthefllling neck, the cap carrying depending lugsfor fitting inthenotches of the neck so as to prevent rotation of the cap, the engagementof the lockingbarwith the cam flanges` preventing the removalfof' thecap from the neck. t.

A furtherv important object of my inventionris the provision of novelmeanswhereby the locking bar can be brought'into and out of alinementwithY the lugs on the cap, whereby the locking bar can be introducedwiththe lugs vinto the notches of the neck and thereafterrotatedunderthecam flanges ofthe neck by the barrel of the lock toprevent unauthorized removal offthe cap.

Avfurther object of my invention is the provi- Sion of a locking cap forthe filling necks of `gasoline tanks, .which is so constructed that thecap can. be utilized with ordinary necks of tanks withf out anyadditions or changes to the necks.

A further object of my invention is theprovision of novel means forresiliently associating `the lock bar with the barrel of the cap andthebody of. the cap, whereby the lock bar canbe conveniently moved underthe .cam flanges Aand act as means for. drawing the capand the gasketcarried thereby into sealingl engagement with the neck, whereby loss ofgasoline between thezneck and cap is prevented and whereby slightvariations in the height of the cam anges will be 4;@ taken Careof. 'f

A still further object vof my invention isto provide a locking cap forthe fillingnecks of gasoline tanks, which willv be durable andefficient-in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture 5.0.)and one which can be placed upon the'm'arket at and illustrated intheaccompanying drawing',f,in` which: y i, Figure 1 isa diainetric sectionthrough my proved cap showing vthe same applied tofa fillingv neck, thesectionbefing taken substantially on the line 1-1,of,`Figure 2 lookingin the direction Of the arrows; f vFigure .2 Vis`.a.Lhorizo'vntalsection through .the capl andA neck taken substantially on the line.f2-2 of Figure llooking in the direction of. the arrows, Figure 3 is a,fragmentary section throughthe flllingnecfk illustrating the lockingposition of the lock barfrelative to thelcam flanges of the neck.VReferring to thedrawing in detail, whereinsim.- ilarAreference'characters ,designate the" correspendingA parts througho'utthe several views, thev letter. A generally. indicates my `improved capand B the neck of a tank- .withf which-thecap can be associated.y.` .o rThe llingneck Bean beofthe usn'ial'construe tion generallyemployedginconnection' with` the gasoline .storagftanks of automobilesand as shown, the same embodies thecylindricalneck portion shaving 'theiii-turned annuiaryangegc on itsy upper edge'Iiwhi'chisprovded",witlildia rnetric'ally.l disposed notches `'7 8. The' in#turned'liange 6 Icarriesl depending zalrcuate` .locking cam flangesQwhich lie on oppositesides ofther notches '7 and 8. As sloyvngthehighpoints of .the cam angesare oppositely `dsposed relative to oneanotherlvf ,.f I Myimproved cap A. can `be constructed from any desiredv materialand in anypreferredmanner and embodies a top wallglO .having a dependingannular peripheral flange or skirt 1l for snugly engaging about".` theneck B.- YFormed on the axial'enterfofthetop wail 1o andV dependingtherefrom isa boss'lZwhich is' bored for the`r e. ception of therotatable'lbarrel A113, of acont/'enj-L, tional pin-,tumbler lock.'barrel Lacan :be:` held against endwise movement Within thefcap in anypreferred mannensuchv as; by .the use of a retaining plate 14`connectedwith the barreland engaging the lower face of the boss l2. Y fyf Arranged inspacedrelationtotheskirt il are diametricallydisposedlockinglugs orlips 1,5 which are,v adapted to detachablyfit-within the notches 7 and 8=of the :neck B, when the capfisldisposedon the neck, to prevent rotation of the cap'relative to the neck." Asealing gasket 16 formedfrom cork ory other fcompressiblemateriallisznisposed against the inner face of the top wall 10 and isheld in position between the skirt ll and the lugs 15. This gasket 16 isadapted to bear against the upper face of the neck when the `cap is inposition thereon, so as to prevent loss of gasoline or other liquidcontained in the tank between the cap and the filling neck.

Rotatable with the barrel 13 of the lock is a diametrically extendingrigid locking bar 17. This locking bar is of such a length as to engageunder the cam flanges 9 of the neck, when the barrel of the lock isrotated by the key to its locked position. My novel means of associatingthe locking bar with the barrel of the lock and the body of the capforms an important partof my invention, as by this means I am enabled topro,- vide in effect a fioating lock bar, the advantages of which willbe hereinafter more fully set forth. As shown, the retaining plate 14carries depending guide pins 1s and the hub A.19- of the iokin'g` bar 17isprovided with openingsfor receiving the pins. l and away from thebarrel of the lock and 4the pins form a guide thereof.

IFormed integral with theopposite `sides of the boss 12 are studs 20,which extend below the boss and these studs have rfitted against thesame a retaining disc 21 which is held in place bymeans of screws 22which .extend throughthe plate and into threaded bores formed in thestuds. An expansion spring 23 is placed between'the retaining disc 22and the hub 10 of the locking bar and this springnormally functions .toholdthe locking bar in a'raised position. If desired, the hub 19 ofthelock bar can have formedthereon a projectionf24 which forms a seat forretaining the spring 23 in place. It is to be alsoA noted that the lock`bar is disposed between the studs 20and thus; `these 35 studs serve tolimitthesvvinging movementY of the lock bar. f'

In use of my improved'closure cap, the key'l 25y f for the lock'isinsertedin the barrel so as to releasethe barrel from the boss 12 for free'rotation,

after which the barrel 13fis turned soas to `a1ine the arms ofthe lockbarwith the locking lugs 15 casted on the cap. The cap isnow inserted ontheviillin'g neck B andthe lugs 15 andthe lock bar 17will ride intothe'notches 7 and 8,A Upon rotation ofithebarrel4 13 by the key, thearms of the lock barrel will first engage under` the low points ofthecam flanges'l 9v and upon continued rotation of the barreLthe lock barwill gradually ,y ride up the inclined faces of said flanges. When 5Uthe barrel has been turned tov its'lockedposition with the lock bar 17disposed substantially at right angles to the locking lugs, the key isre-j moved and manipulation of the lockisthen prevented 4byunauthorizedV persons. Obviously, the position of the lugs 15 within the.notchesv 7 and 8 will prevent rotation of the cap. An outward pull onthe cap is vresisted by the engagement of the lock `bar under the camflanges 9. Thus, the removal ofthe cap other thanby they personpossessing the correct key is prevented. j 1

. Bymy means'of 4mounting the -lock bar 1 7 in position, thelockbarfispermitted to give relative to the flanges 9 and variation in theseflanges be taken'care of by the downward movement of the lockf'bar. Further, the continued'upward thrust ofthe'lock bar on the flanges tends tohold the cap tight down on the neck, allowing the gasket 17 to form a'seal with the neck to preventV any loss of liquid between theV` neck andthecap;

'In orderv to furtherhelp the movement ofthe This allows the locking barto slide toward -tank having an in-turned flange provided with lock barunder the cam flanges 9, the top face of the arms of the lock bar can becurved transversely, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3.

By my construction of the cap, the parts can be readily assembled andthe entire cap can be manufactured at a low cost.

Obviously, when it is desired to remove the cap from the neck, the keyis reinserted in the barrel and thebarrel is again turned to aline thearms of the locking bar with the notches of the neck, after which thecap can be pulled upward and oft' of the neck due to the fact that thearms ofthe lock bar and the lugs will all be in alinementwith thenotches of the neck.

'Changes in details may be made without de- 1. 'I'he combination withthe filling neck of a diametrically disposed notches and depending camflanges arranged between the notches, Aof a removable closure cap forthe neck including depending rigid locking lugs for engaging in saidnotches when' the cap is disposed on the neck, an Aaxially disposed bosshaving a bore formed on the cap, a lock including a barrel rotatablymounted in the boss, spaced depending pins'ca'rried by the inner end ofthe barrel of the lock, a'lock bar having openings for slidablyreceiving the pins, studs formed on the boss extending below the boss, aretaining disc secured to the studs, and an expansion spring arrangedbetween the lock bar and the retaining disc.

2. A closure cap for the filling necks of tanks comprising a body havinga top Wall and a dependingk skirt, diametrically disposed locking lugsformed on the body in spaced relation to the skirt, a gasket disposedagainst the inner face of the top-wall and disposed-betweenV the skirtand the lugs, an axially disposed boss formed on the top wall having abore, a key-operated lock including a barrel rotatably mounted in saidbore, securing studs formed on the body and extending below the boss, alock bar rotatable with the barrel into and out of alinement with thelugs including radially extending arms and a hub, the hub being providedwith openings, depending pins connected with the barrel slidablyreceived in said openings, a .retaining disc, means securing theretaining disc to the studs and an expansion spring interposed betweenthe retaining disc and the hub of the lock bar, the upper faces of thearms of the lock bar being curved transversely.

3. The combination with the filling neck of a tank having an inturnedfiange provided with oppositely disposed notches and cam flanges lying.on opposite sides of the notches; of a removable closure cap for theneck including a body having depending locking lugs for engaging in thenotches to prevent rotation of the cap on the neck, a key-operated lockcarried by the cap including a rotatable barrel, a Vdiametricallyextending lock bar, means slidably and non-rotatably connecting the lockbar with the barrel whereby the lock bar is freely rotatable with thebarrel and movable toward and away from the barrel, a retaining memberdisposed below the bar, means securing the retaining member to the body,and an expansion spring `disposed between the lock bar and the retainingmember.

MA'II-IEW G. IVANDICK.

